Method, apparatus and system of communication over multiple frequency bands

ABSTRACT

Devices, systems and methods of communication over multiple wireless communication frequency bands. For example, a multiple frequency band (multi-band) wireless communication device may include at least two radios to communicate over at least two different frequency bands; and a common station management entity (SME) operably coupled to the at least two radios, and configured to manage parallel and simultaneous operation of the at least two radios.

BACKGROUND

A number of wireless devices today claim to be multi-band. This term iscommonly used to refer to devices that support operation in multiplefrequency bands, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, cellular bands, and the like.

Although these devices are multi-band from a frequency band point ofview, from a radio implementation and system integration perspective theoperation across the supported frequency bands are completelyindependent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a device including aStation-Management-Entity (SME) coupled to a plurality of radios, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method of communication over multiplewireless communication frequency bands, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an article of manufacture, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”,“computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality” as used herein include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, amobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tabletcomputer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, anon-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehiculardevice, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a consumerdevice, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communicationstation, a wireless communication device, a wireless Access Point (AP),a wired or wireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a video device,an audio device, an audio-video (A/V) device, a wired or wirelessnetwork, a wireless area network, a Wireless Video Area Network (WVAN),a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), a Personal AreaNetwork (PAN), a Wireless PAN (WPAN), devices and/or networks operatingin accordance with existing Wireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA)specifications (Wireless Gigabit Alliance, Inc WiGig MAC and PHYSpecification Version 1.1, April 2011, Final specification) and/orfuture versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networksoperating in accordance with existing IEEE 802.11 standards (IEEE802.11-2007, IEEE Standard for Information Technology—Telecommunicationsand information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan areanetworks—Specific requirements, Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium AccessControl (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications; IEEE802.11n-2009, IEEE Standard for InformationTechnology—Telecommunications and information exchange betweensystems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements, Part11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)specifications, Amendment 5: Enhancements for Higher Throughput;IEEE802.11 task group ac (TGac) (“IEEE802.11-09/0308r12—TGac ChannelModel Addendum Document”), IEEE 802.11 task group ad (TGad)) (IEEEP802.11ad/D1.0 Draft Standard for InformationTechnology—Telecommunications and Information Exchange BetweenSystems—Local and Metropolitan Area Networks—Specific Requirements—Part11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)Specifications—Amendment 5: Enhancements for Very High Throughput in the60 GHz Band), and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, devicesand/or networks operating in accordance with existing IEEE 802.16standards (IEEE-Std 802.16, 2009 Edition, Air Interface for FixedBroadband Wireless Access Systems; IEEE-Std 802.16e, 2005 Edition,Physical and Medium Access Control Layers for Combined Fixed and MobileOperation in Licensed Bands; amendment to IEEE Std 802.16-2009,developed by Task Group m) and/or future versions and/or derivativesthereof, devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existingWireless-WirelessHD™ specifications and/or future versions and/orderivatives thereof, units and/or devices which are part of the abovenetworks, one way and/or two-way radio communication systems, cellularradio-telephone communication systems, a cellular telephone, a wirelesstelephone, a Personal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA devicewhich incorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portableGlobal Positioning System (GPS) device, a device which incorporates aGPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFIDelement or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver ordevice, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, aMultiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a devicehaving one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, DigitalVideo Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devicesor systems, a wired or wireless handheld device (e.g., BlackBerry, PalmTreo), a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, RadioFrequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM),Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet RadioService (GPRS), extended GPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrierCDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT),Bluetooth®, Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee™,Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), 2G,2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), or thelike. Other embodiments may be used in various other devices, systemsand/or networks.

The phrase “wireless device” as used herein includes, for example, adevice capable of wireless communication, a communication device capableof wireless communication, a communication station capable of wirelesscommunication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wirelesscommunication, or the like. In some demonstrative embodiments, awireless device may be or may include a peripheral that is integratedwith a computer, or a peripheral that is attached to a computer. In somedemonstrative embodiments, the term “wireless device” may optionallyinclude a wireless service.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with suitablelimited-range or short-range wireless communication networks, forexample, a wireless area network, a “piconet”, a WPAN, a WVAN and thelike. Other embodiments may be used in conjunction with any othersuitable wireless communication network.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with awireless communication network communicating over a frequency band of 60Gigahertz (GHz), a frequency band of 2.4 GHz and/or a frequency band of5 GHz. However, other embodiments may be implemented utilizing any othersuitable wireless communication frequency bands, for example, anExtremely High Frequency (EHF) band (the millimeter wave (mmwave)frequency band), e.g., a frequency band within the frequency band ofbetween 30 GHz and 300 GHz, a WLAN frequency band, a frequency bandaccording to the IEEE 802.11 specifications, a WPAN frequency band, afrequency band according to the WGA specification, and the like.

The term “antenna”, as used herein, may include any suitableconfiguration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antennaelements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. In someembodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. Insome embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receiveelements. The antenna may include an antenna covered by a quasi-omniantenna pattern. For example, the antenna may include at least one of aphased array antenna, a single element antenna, a set of switched beamantennas, and the like.

The phrase “quasi-omni antenna pattern”, as used herein, may include anoperating mode with a widest practical beamwidth attainable for aparticular antenna.

The term “station” (STA), as used herein, may include any logical entitythat is a singly addressable instance of a medium access control (MAC)and a physical layer (PHY) interface to a wireless medium (WM).

The phrase “access point” (AP), as used herein, may include an entitythat contains one station (STA) and provides access to distributionservices, via the WM for associated STAs.

The term “association”, as used herein may relate to a service used toestablish access point/station (AP/STA) mapping and enable STAinvocation of distribution system services (DSSs).

The term “authentication”, as used herein may relate to a service usedto establish the identity of one station (STA) as a member of the set ofSTAs authorized to associate with another STA.

The term “beamforming”, as used herein, may relate to a spatialfiltering mechanism, which may be used at a transmitter to improve thereceived signal power or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at an intendedreceiver.

The phrase “non-access-point (non-AP) station (STA)”, as used herein,may relate to a STA that is not contained within an AP.

The phrase “service period” (SP), as used herein, may relate to acontiguous time during which one or more downlink individually addressedframes are transmitted to a quality of service (QoS) station (STA)and/or one or more transmission opportunities (TXOPs) are granted to thesame STA.

The phrase “directional band” (DBand), as used herein, may relate to afrequency band wherein the Channel starting frequency is above 45 GHz.

The phrase “DBand STA”, as used herein, may relate to a STA whose radiotransmitter is operating on a channel that is within the DBand.

The phrase “omni-directional band” (OBand), as used herein, may relateto a frequency band having a channel starting frequency below 6 GHz. Forexample, the OBand may include a 2.4 GHz band, a 5 GHz band, and thelike.

The phrase “OBand STA”, as used herein, may relate to a STA whose radiotransmitter is operating on a channel that is within the OBand.

The phrase “personal basic service set” (PBSS), as used herein, mayrelate to a basic service set (BSS) that forms a self-contained network.For example, the PBSS may operate in the DBand, and may include one PBSScontrol point (PCP).

The phrase “PBSS control point” (PCP), as used herein, may include anentity that contains one station (STA) and coordinates access to the WMby STAs that are members of a PBSS.

The phrase “non-PCP station (STA)”, as used herein, may relate to a STAthat is not also a PCP.

The phrase “non-PCP/non-AP station (STA)”, as used herein, may relate toa STA that is not a PCP and that is not an AP.

The phrases “PCP/AP” and “wireless network controller”, as used herein,may relate to a STA that is a PCP or an AP.

The terms “traffic” and/or “traffic stream(s)”, as used herein, mayrelate to a data flow and/or stream between wireless devices such asSTAs.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a blockdiagram of a system 100, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 mayinclude a wireless communication network including one or more wirelesscommunication devices, e.g., wireless communication devices 102 and/or130, capable of communicating content, data, information and/or signalsover one or more suitable wireless communication links, for example, aradio channel, an IR channel, a RF channel, a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi)channel, an OBand channel, a DBand channel, and the like. One or moreelements of system 100 may optionally be capable of communicating overany suitable wired communication links. For example, system 100 mayoperate according to standards developed by the IEEE 802.11 task groupad (TGad), according to the WGA specifications, according to IEEE802.15.3c standard, according to the WirelessHD™ specification,according to the ECMA-387 standard, and/or according to another suitablewireless standard.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 130 may include, for example a PC, a desktop computer, a mobilecomputer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, aserver computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, a PDA device, ahandheld PDA device, an on-board device, an off-board device, a hybriddevice (e.g., combining cellular phone functionalities with PDA devicefunctionalities), a consumer device, a vehicular device, a non-vehiculardevice, a mobile or portable device, a non-mobile or non-portabledevice, a cellular telephone, a PCS device, a PDA device whichincorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portable GPSdevice, a DVB device, a relatively small computing device, a non-desktopcomputer, a “Carry Small Live Large” (CSLL) device, an Ultra MobileDevice (UMD), an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), a Mobile Internet Device (MID),an “Origami” device or computing device, a device that supportsDynamically Composable Computing (DCC), a context-aware device, a videodevice, an audio device, an A/V device, a Set-Top-Box (STB), a Blu-raydisc (BD) player, a BD recorder, a Digital Video Disc (DVD) player, aHigh Definition (HD) DVD player, a DVD recorder, a HD DVD recorder, aPersonal Video Recorder (PVR), a broadcast HD receiver, a video source,an audio source, a video sink, an audio sink, a stereo tuner, abroadcast radio receiver, a flat panel display, a Personal Media Player(PMP), a digital video camera (DVC), a digital audio player, a speaker,an audio receiver, an audio amplifier, a gaming device, a data source, adata sink, a Digital Still camera (DSC), a media player, a Smartphone, atelevision, a music player, or the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 130 may include wireless communication units 104 and/or 132,respectively, to perform wireless communication with wirelesscommunication devices 102 and/or 130, respectively, and/or with one ormore other wireless communication devices, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 130 may includeand/or perform the functionality of a multiple frequency band(multi-band) device capable of communicating over a plurality ofwireless communication frequency bands, e.g., as described in detailbelow.

Wireless communication devices 102 and/or 130 may also include, forexample, one or more of a processor 114, an input unit 106, an outputunit 108, a memory unit 110, and a storage unit 112. Wirelesscommunication devices 102 and/or 130 may optionally include othersuitable hardware components and/or software components. In somedemonstrative embodiments, some or all of the components of one or moreof wireless communication devices 102 and/or 130 may be enclosed in acommon housing or packaging, and may be interconnected or operablyassociated using one or more wired or wireless links. In otherembodiments, components of one or more of wireless communication devices102 and/or 130 may be distributed among multiple or separate devices.

Processor 114 includes, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), aDigital Signal Processor (DSP), one or more processor cores, asingle-core processor, a dual-core processor, a multiple-core processor,a microprocessor, a host processor, a controller, a plurality ofprocessors or controllers, a chip, a microchip, one or more circuits,circuitry, a logic unit, an Integrated Circuit (IC), anApplication-Specific IC (ASIC), or any other suitable multi-purpose orspecific processor or controller. Processor 114 executes instructions,for example, of an Operating System (OS) of wireless communicationdevices 102 and/or 130 and/or of one or more suitable applications.

Input unit 106 includes, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, atouch-pad, a track-ball, a stylus, a microphone, or other suitablepointing device or input device. Output unit 108 includes, for example,a monitor, a screen, a flat panel display, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)display unit, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) display unit, a plasmadisplay unit, one or more audio speakers or earphones, or other suitableoutput devices.

Memory unit 110 includes, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM), aRead Only Memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), a Synchronous DRAM(SD-RAM), a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, acache memory, a buffer, a short term memory unit, a long term memoryunit, or other suitable memory units. Storage unit 112 includes, forexample, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD)drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or other suitable removable ornon-removable storage units. Memory unit 110 and/or storage unit 112,for example, may store data processed by wireless communication devices102 and/or 130.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication units 104 and132 may include, or may be associated with, one or more antennas 105 and133, respectively. Antennas 105 and/or 133 may include any type ofantennas suitable for transmitting and/or receiving wirelesscommunication signals, blocks, frames, transmission streams, packets,messages and/or data. For example, antennas 105 and/or 133 may includeany suitable configuration, structure and/or arrangement of one or moreantenna elements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. Antennas105 and/or 133 may include an antenna covered by a quasi-omni antennapattern. For example, antennas 105 and/or 133 may include at least oneof a phased array antenna, a single element antenna, a set of switchedbeam antennas, and the like. In some embodiments, antennas 105 and/or133 may implement transmit and receive functionalities using separatetransmit and receive antenna elements. In some embodiments, antennas 105and/or 133 may implement transmit and receive functionalities usingcommon and/or integrated transmit/receive elements.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication units 104and/or 132 include, for example, one or more wireless transmitters,receivers and/or transceivers able to send and/or receive wirelesscommunication signals, RF signals, frames, blocks, transmission streams,packets, messages, data items, and/or data. For example, wirelesscommunication units 104 and/or 132 may include or may be implemented aspart of a wireless Network Interface Card (NIC), and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and 130 may establish at least one wireless communication link. The linkmay include an uplink and/or a downlink. The downlink may include, forexample, a unidirectional link from an AP to one or more non-AP stations(STAs) or a unidirectional link from a non-AP Destination STA to anon-AP Source STA. The uplink may include, for example, a unidirectionallink from a non-AP STA to an AP or a unidirectional link from a non-APSource STA to a non-AP Destination STA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 130 may perform the functionality of DBand STAs and/or OBandSTAs, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may perform thefunctionality of a multi-band device capable of communicating, e.g.,with device 130 and/or one or more other devices, over multiple wirelesscommunication frequency bands, as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 104 may utilize amulti-band operation mechanism, which is configured to allow integrationand/or seamless operation across different frequency bands and/orchannels. The multi-band mechanism (also referred to as “fast sessiontransfer” (FST)) may significantly improve user experience, for example,by offering real-time integration at the data link level between radiosof different technologies, e.g., WGA-based and IEEE 802.11-basedtechnologies.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 104 may beconfigured to provide effective sharing and/or exchange of informationbetween different data link layer technologies, and/or to offer amechanism whose operation is completely transparent to higher layer(e.g., network) protocols, such as, for example, Internet Protocol (IP).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 104 mayinclude at least two radios, e.g., including radios 142 and 144, tocommunicate over at least two different frequency bands.

In one embodiment, radio 142 may communicate over the DBand and/or radio144 may communicate over the OBand. For example, radio 142 may performthe functionality of at least one DBand STA, e.g., by communicating overa 60 GHz frequency band; and/or radio 144 may perform the functionalityof at least one OBand STA, e.g., by communicating over a 2.4 GHz or 5GHz frequency band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the at least two radios may includethree or more radios, for example, at least a first OBand radio tocommunicate over a first OBand, a second OBand radio to communicate overa second, different, OBand, and a third radio to communicate over aDBand, e.g., as described below with reference to FIG. 2. In otherembodiments, the at least two radios may include any other combinationof two or more radios operating at two or more frequency bands.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 104 mayinclude a common Station-Management-Entity (SME) 140, operably coupledto radios 142 and 144. SME 140 may be configured to manage parallel andsimultaneous operation of radios 142 and 144, e.g., as described indetail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication unit 104 mayinclude a single SME, e.g., SME 140, commonly managing radios 142 and144, as opposed, for example, to existing implementations claiming to be“multi-band”, in which a plurality of SMEs are used, such that each SMEis used, e.g., independently, for each frequency band.

Alternatively, functions of SME 140 may be duplicated to operateindependently over each MAC/PHY stack. However, a single multi-bandmanagement entity may exist that spans over all MAC/PHY stacks and thatcontrols the multi-band operation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SME 140 may manage the association,disassociation, connection management, traffic stream establishment,security key management, and the like, e.g., for each individual MAC/PHYstack available in device 102. For example, SME 140 may be configured tomanage at least association, disassociation and traffic streamestablishment for each of the at least two radios 142 and 144. Thecommon management of these operations may enable, for example, aseamless and/or integrated operation, e.g., across all bands supportedby device 102.

Although the scope of the present invention is not limited to thisexemplary embodiment of the invention, SME 140 may manage the operationover more than one frequency band/channel. For example, SME 140 maymanage the setting up, configuring and tearing down the real-timetransfer of traffic sessions amongst the different frequency bandssupported by device 102. In one example, SME 140 may be configured tocoordinate setup, tear down and/or fast session transfer from onefrequency band, e.g., from the frequency band supported by radio 142, toanother frequency band, e.g., to the frequency band supported by radio144.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the operation across thedifferent frequency bands supported by device 102 may be simultaneous.In other embodiments, the operation across the different frequency bandssupported by device 102 may be non-simultaneous.

For example, SME 140 may include one or more security management keyentities, e.g., N≧1 management keys, for radios 142 and 144.

Each of the one or more security management key entities may include aRobust Security Network Association (RSNA) key. For example, SME 140 mayinclude at least one first RSNA key for radio 142 and at least onesecond RSNA key for radio 144.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the one or more security managementkey entities may include at least one common security management keyentity shared between two or more of the at least two radios. Forexample, SME 140 may include a key management entity shared betweenradios 142 and 144, e.g., if transparent FST is to be used.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios 142 and 144 may include atleast first and second Media-Access-Control (MAC) Service Access Point(SAPs) each identified by a MAC address, e.g., in analogy to thedescription below with reference to FIG. 2. For example, each MAC SAP ofradios 142 and 144 may be identified by a unique MAC address.

In other embodiments, a pair of MAC SAPs of radios 142 and 144 may beidentified by non-unique. For example, a pair of MAC SAPs of radios 142and 144 may share a common MAC address, e.g., if transparent FST is tobe used.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which schematically illustrates a device200 including a SME 202 coupled to a plurality of radios, e.g.,including three radios 206, 206 and 208, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

Although the scope of the present invention is not limited in thisrespect, radio 204 may operate at a first frequency band, radio 206 mayoperate at a second frequency band, and radio 208 may operate at a thirdfrequency band.

For example, the first, second and third frequency bands may includedifferent frequency bands, wherein radio 204 may operate over a firstOBand frequency, radio 206 may operate over a second OBand frequency,and/or radio 208 may operate over a DBand frequency. For example, radio204 may operate at a 2.4 GHz frequency band, radio 206 may operate at a5 GHz frequency band, and/or radio 208 may operate at a 60 GHz frequencyband.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SME 202 may manage the association,disassociation, connection management, traffic stream establishment,security key management, and the like, for each of radios 204, 206 and208. The common management of these operations may enable, for example,a seamless and/or integrated operation, e.g., across the first, secondand third frequency bands.

For example, SME 202 may manage the setting up, configuring and tearingdown the real-time transfer of traffic sessions amongst the first,second and third frequency bands.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SME 202 may include a multi-bandmanagement module (also referred to as “multi-band management entity”)260 configured to manage parallel and simultaneous operation of at leasttwo radios of radios 204, 206 and 208. For example, module 260 may beconfigured to coordinate the setup, configuration, tear down and/ortransfer of FST sessions from a first band/channel to a secondband/channel supported by radios 204, 206 and 208.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 200 may include a plurality ofMAC entities. In some embodiments, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, each ofradios 204, 206 and 208 may include a single MAC entity. In otherembodiments, one or more of radios 204, 206 and 208 may include morethan one MAC entity.

In some embodiments, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, radio 204 may include aMAC sub-layer 220 associated with a Physical (PHY) layer, e.g.,including a Physical Layer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) sub-layer 230 anda Physical Medium Dependent (PMD) sub-layer 240. Radio 206 may include,for example, a MAC sub-layer 222 associated with a PHY layer, e.g.,including a PLCP sub-layer 232 and a PMD sub-layer 242. Radio 208 mayinclude, for example, a MAC sub-layer 224 associated with a PHY layer,e.g., including a PLCP sub-layer 234 and a PMD sub-layer 244. Radios204, 206 and/or 208 may also include a MAC sub-layer management entity(MLME) and/or a PHY sub-layer management entity (PLME).

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the MACentities of radios 204, 206 and 208 may include a separate PLCP sublayerand/or a separate PMD sublayer.

In other embodiments, one or more of the MAC entities may share a commonPLCP sublayer and/or a common PMD sublayer. For example, although FIG. 2shows a one-to-one mapping between each PHY and MAC layer, in someembodiments multiple MAC addresses may be supported, such that, forexample, multiple MAC layers may share the same PHY layer, with each MAClayer having its own MAC address.

In some embodiments of the invention, MAC sub-layer 220 may beidentified by a first MAC address, MAC sub-layer 222 may be identifiedby a second MAC address, and MAC sub-layer 224 may be identified by athird MAC address.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SME 202 may coordinate the managementof multiple MAC entities having MAC sub-layers, e.g., MAC sub-layers220, 222 and 224. For example, each of MAC sub-layers 220, 222 and 224may have a separate MAC Service Access Point (SAP) and a MLME-PLME SAP.

According to some embodiments of the invention, each MAC entity ofdevice 200 may be identified by a separate, e.g., unique, MAC address.For example, each MAC entity of radios 204, 206 and 208 may have aunique MAC address, e.g., with respect to the other MAC entities withindevice 200.

According to other embodiments of the invention, at least one MAC entitymay be identified by a MAC address, which is non-unique within device200. For example, at least a pair of MAC SAPs of radios 204, 206 and 208may share a common MAC address, e.g., if transparent FST is to be used.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SME 202 may manage radios 204, 206and 208 using one or more security keys. For example, SME 202 maycontrol the MAC SAPs of radios 204, 206 and 208 using one or more RSNAkey management entities.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SME 202 may include a separate andindependent key management entity to control each MAC SAP of radios 204,206 and 208. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, SME 202 may manage radios204, 206 and 208 using a plurality of separate and/or independent RSNAkey management entities 250 252 and 254, e.g., respectively.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SME 202 may include at least onecommon security management key entity shard between two or more MAC SAPsof radios 204, 206 and 208. For example, SME 202 may share at least oneof RSNA key management entities 250, 252 and 254 among two or more MACSAPs of radios 204, 206 and 208, e.g., if transparent FST is used.

In some demonstrative embodiments, SME 202 may be identified by any ofthe MAC addresses supported by device 200, e.g., the MAC addressessupported by the MAC entities of radios 204, 206 and 208. Accordingly,SME 202 may receive notification on MLME frames received by any of theMLMEs of radios 204, 206 and 208.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multi-band management module 260 maycoordinate the setup, configuration, tear down and transfer of FSTsessions from a first band/channel supported by device 200 to a secondband/channel supported by radios device 200.

In one example, multi-band management entity 260 may employ acombination of source and destination MAC addresses in both the firstand second bands/channels to configure the routing of MSDUs and/or MLMEprimitives within device 200, for example, between radios 204, 206and/or 208, e.g., if non-transparent FST is used.

In another example, multi-band management entity 260 may employ aTraffic Identifier (TID) of a FST session, e.g., in addition to thecombination of the source and destination MAC addresses, to configurethe routing of MSDUs and/or MLME primitives within device 200, e.g., iftransparent FST is used.

Reference is made to FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates a method ofcommunication over multiple wireless communication frequency bands, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments. Although the scope ofthe present invention is not limited in this respect, one or moreoperations of the method of FIG. 3 may be performed by any suitablewireless communication system e.g., system 100 (FIG. 1); wirelesscommunication device, e.g., devices 102, 130 (FIG. 1) and/or 200 (FIG.2); and/or wireless communication unit, e.g., wireless communicationunits 104 and/or 132 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 300, the method may include managing operation ofa multi-band device over at least two different frequency bands, whereinthe operation across the at least two different frequency bands is donesimultaneously.

As indicated at block 301, in some demonstrative embodiments, themanaging may include managing at least two radios using a single SME ora single multi-band management entity for all MAC/PHY stacks.

For example, SME 202 (FIG. 2) may manage the simultaneous operation ofdevice 200 over the frequency bands of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and/or 60 GHz,e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 302, the method may include coordinating a setup,a tear down and a fast session transfer session from one frequency bandto another frequency band of the multi-band station. For example, SME202 (FIG. 2) may include coordinating a setup, a tear down and a fastsession transfer session from a first frequency band of the frequencybands of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 60 GHz to a second frequency band of thefrequency bands of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and/or 60 GHz, e.g., as describedabove.

As indicated at block 304, the method may include commonly managing atleast association, disassociation and traffic stream establishment overthe at least two frequency bands. For example, module 260 (FIG. 2) maymanage at least association, disassociation and traffic streamestablishment over the frequency bands of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and/or 60 GHz,e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 306, the method may include commonly managing oneor more security management key entities corresponding to the at leasttwo frequency bands.

In some demonstrative embodiments, each of the one or more securitymanagement key entities includes a RSNA key. For example, SME 202 (FIG.2) may include RSNA key management entities 250, 252 and 254 (FIG. 2),e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the one or more security managementkey entities include at least one common security management key entitycorresponding to two or more of the at least two frequency bands.

Reference is made to FIG. 4, which schematically illustrates an articleof manufacture 400, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.Article 400 may include a machine-readable storage medium 402 to storelogic 404, which may be used, for example, to perform at least part ofthe functionality of wireless communication unit 104 (FIG. 1), wirelesscommunication device 102 (FIG. 1), wireless communication unit 132 (FIG.1), wireless communication device 130 (FIG. 1); device 200 (FIG. 2); SME140 (FIG. 1); SME 202 (FIG. 2); and/or to perform one or more operationsof the method of FIG. 3.

Although embodiments of the present invention are not limited to thisexample, article 400 and/or machine-readable storage medium 402 mayinclude one or more types of computer-readable storage media capable ofstoring data, including volatile memory, non-volatile memory, removableor non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory, writeable orre-writeable memory, and the like. For example, machine-readable storagemedium 402 may include, RAM, DRAM, Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM),SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasableprogrammable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R),Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory (e.g., NOR or NAND flashmemory), content addressable memory (CAM), polymer memory, phase-changememory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon(SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppy disk, a hard drive, an optical disk, amagnetic disk, a card, a magnetic card, an optical card, a tape, acassette, and the like. The computer-readable storage media may includeany suitable media involved with downloading or transferring a computerprogram from a remote computer to a requesting computer carried by datasignals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium through acommunication link, e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 404 may include instructions,data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause themachine to perform a method, process and/or operations as describedherein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processingplatform, computing platform, computing device, processing device,computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like,and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware,software, firmware, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 404 may include, or may beimplemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program,a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words,values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitabletype of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code,executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Theinstructions may be implemented according to a predefined computerlanguage, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform acertain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitablehigh-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/orinterpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Matlab,Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and the like.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, tobe understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless communication device comprising: atleast two radios configured to communicate over at least two differentfrequency bands; and a station management entity (SME) componentoperably coupled to the at least two radios, the SME componentconfigured to manage parallel and simultaneous operation of the at leasttwo radios, said SME component configured to coordinate a setup, a teardown and a transfer of a fast session transfer (FST) session from afirst frequency band or channel to a second frequency band or channel,wherein each of said at least two radios has a Media Access Control(MAC) sublayer, each MAC sublayer has a separate MAC Service AccessPoint (SAP), and wherein each MAC SAP is controlled by a separate andindependent Robust Security Network Association (RSNA) key managemententity, when transparent FST is not used.
 2. The wireless communicationdevice of claim 1, wherein said SME component comprises one or moresecurity management key entities corresponding to the at least tworadios.
 3. The wireless communication device of claim 2, wherein the oneor more security management key entities comprise at least two differentsecurity management key entities.
 4. The wireless communication deviceof claim 2, wherein the one or more security management key entitiescomprise at least one shared security management key entity sharedbetween two or more of said at least two radios.
 5. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein said SME component isconfigured to manage at least association, disassociation, and trafficstream establishment for the at least two radios.
 6. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein said SME component isconfigured to employ a combination of source and destination MACaddresses in the first and second frequency bands or channels toconfigure routing of MAC sub-layer management entity (MLME) primitiveswithin the wireless communication device, when nontransparent FST isused.
 7. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said SMEcomponent is configured to employ a Traffic Identifier (TID) of the FSTsession to configure the routing of MAC sub-layer management entity(MLME) primitives within the wireless communication device, whentransparent FST is used.
 8. The wireless communication device of claim1, wherein said at least two radios have at least first and second MACSAPs identified by at least first and second respective MAC addresses.9. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein said at leasttwo radios have at least first and second MAC SAPs identified by a sameMAC address.
 10. The wireless communication device of claim 1, wherein aradio of the two or more radios comprises a Physical Layer ConvergenceProtocol (PLCP) sub-layer and a Physical Medium Dependent (PMD)sub-layer.
 11. The wireless communication device of claim 1, whereinsaid at least two radios comprise a radio configured to operate at a 60GHz frequency band.
 12. The wireless communication device of claim 1,wherein said at least two radios comprise three radios configured tocommunicate over three respective different frequency bands.
 13. Thewireless communication device of claim 12, wherein said three radioscomprise a first radio configured to operate at a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz)frequency band, a second radio configured to operate at a 5 GHzfrequency band, and a third radio configured to operate at a 60 GHzfrequency band.
 14. The wireless communication device of claim 1comprising one or more antennas, a memory, and a processor.
 15. Aproduct comprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitorystorage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable to,when executed by at least one computer processor, enable the at leastone computer processor to implement one or more operations, theoperations comprising: managing simultaneous operation of a wirelesscommunication device over at least two different frequency bands, thewireless communication device comprising a plurality of Media AccessControl (MAC) sublayers, each MAC sublayer has a separate MAC ServiceAccess Point (SAP); coordinating a setup, a tear down and a transfer ofa fast session transfer (FST) session from a first frequency band orchannel to a second frequency band or channel; and controlling each MACSAP by a separate and independent Robust Security Network Association(RSNA) key management entity, when transparent FST is not used.
 16. Theproduct of claim 15, wherein the operations comprise managing one ormore security management key entities corresponding to the at least twodifferent frequency bands.
 17. The product of claim 16, wherein the oneor more security management key entities comprise at least two differentsecurity management key entities.
 18. The product of claim 16, whereinthe one or more security management key entities comprise at least oneshared security management key entity shared between two or more of saidat least two different frequency bands.
 19. The product of claim 15,wherein the operations comprise managing at least association,disassociation and traffic stream establishment for the at least twofrequency bands.
 20. The product of claim 15, wherein said operationscomprise employing a combination of source and destination MAC addressesin the first and second frequency bands or channels to configure routingof MAC sub-layer management entity (MLME) primitives within the wirelesscommunication device, when nontransparent FST is used.
 21. The productof claim 15, wherein said operations comprise employing a TrafficIdentifier (TID) of the FST session to configure the routing of MACsub-layer management entity (MLME) primitives within the wirelesscommunication device, when transparent FST is used.
 22. The product ofclaim 15, wherein said operations comprise identifying at least firstand second MAC SAPs of said wireless communication device by at leastfirst and second respective MAC addresses.
 23. The product of claim 15,wherein said operations comprise identifying at least first and secondMAC SAPs of said wireless communication device by a same MAC address.24. The product of claim 15, wherein said at least two differentfrequency bands comprise three different frequency bands.
 25. Theproduct of claim 24, wherein said three different frequency bandscomprise a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) frequency band, a 5 GHz frequency band,and a 60 GHz frequency band.